Road marker



Aug' 16:

W. J. LA cRolx ROAD MARKER Filed May 24, 1957 ,M af u@ Patented 'g, 16,1938 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT -oFFlcE 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to road markers, and more particularly tomarkers of the type adapted to be mounted in the surface of a roadway todefine paths or lanes for vehicular traiiic, or at intersections ofhighways or streets to define stopping lines for traic, or for definingpedestrian paths or safety lanes or Zones. Markers of this type areusually mountedin spaced-apart relation, and serve to guide bothpedestrian and vehicular traiiic in following or traversing a roadway orstreet, or in following a curve or grade in the roadway. To assist thedriver of a vehicle at night these markers are usually provided withlight reflective elements which are adapted to pick up and reiiect thelight rays of the vehicle headlights.

Itis recognized that many forms of road markers have been heretoforedevised. However, these previous forms of markers usually areconstructed so that they necessitate being driven down against theroad-bed to cause anchorage therein, which frequently resulted inbreaking of the device, or causing insecure anchorage. Further, in theevent that it is necessary to remove such devices from the road-bed forrepair or replacement of parts, such as i'eector elements, the task israther difficult, frequently necessitating discarding of the entiredevice, and damaging the roadbed surrounding the place of mounting.Moreover, such prior devices do not lend themselves for proper use incolder climates, wherein roadways frequently become covered With snow.Such devices usually are seated flat upon the surface of the road-bedand the edge of a snow-plow frequently moves so close to the Surface ofthe roadbed that it moves under the head of the marker and dislodges it,or shears the head off the anchoring elements which project into theroad-bed.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved device ofthe character indicated, which obviates the foregoing diiculties, andwhich is simple in construction, positive in operation and capable ofbeing economically manufactured.

Another object is to provide an improvedy certain novel features forexcluding moisture from seeping down in contact with the anchoringelements, which might cause particles of matter, such as sand, dirt,etc., 'to lodge on the operating surfaces of the cooperating anchoringelements and render'it difficult to release the marker head from theroad-bed.

Still another object is to form the marker with a head and separateanchorage elements, so that the head may be quickly' and easily removed,while the anchoring elements proper remain in the road-bed.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in whichz- 15 Figure1 is a top perspective view of a road marker embodying the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged axial section through the device, shown securedin place in a road-bed.

Figure 3 is a transverse section, taken as indi- 20 cated at line 3-3 onFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the under side of the device, withparts shown in partial disassembly.

Inthe construction illustrated in the drawing, the marker includes ahead, l0, of cast metal, such as aluminum or malleable iron, treated forrustproof, and is preferably formed as a shell, the marginal edges ofwhich are adapted to rest upon the uppersurface lof the road-bed, or maybe seated in a' groove or recess formed in the roadbed surface,` ashereinafter'described. The head maybe formed ofv any desired outline,and, as shown, is of generally oblong shape, having the endsforrned withre-entrant curves forming vertical end walls, Il, in each of which isxedly mounted a conventional form of reflector element, l2, forreflecting thelight rays, such as the rays of the headlights of avehicle. These reflectors are so located with respect to the top of thehead that they will not normally be contacted by the wheel of a vehiclepassing over the marker, and thus are not apt to be easily damaged, and,further, the reflectors are not apt to become covered with dirt, etc.

Formed centrally, and depending from the under side of the head, is aninverted frustoconical body, I4, on which is adapted to be telescopedand seated the upper end of a tubular stem, l5. The inner` surface ofthe upper end of the stem is tapered, as seen at IB, to properly seat onthe tapered surface `,oi the body, I4. Because of the form of anchoringelement employed, the stem desirably should be fixed against rotationrelative to the head, and for this purpose the body, v

I4, is formed with a laterally projecting lug, I'I, and the upper end ofthe stem is formed with a slot, I8, registering with said lug.

Extending down through the head and body, I4, and stem, I5, is a bolt,I9, preferably of steel, provided with a head, 20, seated in a recess,2|, formed in the top of the head, with the top of the bolt head, 2B,below the top surface of the head, I 9. The bolt head is formed with apair of notches or slots, 22, to receive a Spanner wrench for turningthe bolt. Threaded on the lower end of the bolt, I9, is an expansionnut, 25, having three upwardly extending tapered tangs or fingers, 26,adapted to register with and engage tapered surfaces, 21, formedexternally on the lower end of said stem, I5, as seen in the drawing.'Ihe nut is preferably formed of copper or like material, to precluderusting on the bolt, I9.

It is to be understood that devices of this type may be mounted inpre-set concrete, asphalt, macadam, oil-mat and similar road-beds, and,preferably, for uses other than concrete, the stem and bolt areincreased in length to insure a more firm anchorage. In using devicesembodying this invention, the devices are preferably assembledcompletely, with the ends of the tangs, 26, substantially flush with theexternal surface of the stem. The device is then set in place byprojecting the stem and nut assembly into the hole, 29, formed in theconcrete, 30, or other road-bed material, until the under side of themarginal edge of the head rests upon the surface of the road-bed. Thehole, 29, preferably is just slightly larger than the diameter of thestem, I5. Then the head, 20, of the bolt is turned, drawing the nut, 25,upwardly, thereby causing the tangs, 26, to be expanded laterally, dueto engagement with the tapered surfaces, 2l, of the stem, forciblyprojecting the ends of the tangs into the wall of concrete, and firmlyanchoring the marker in position.

For repair or replacement of the head, l0, or parts thereof, the boltmay be turned in the opposite direction until disengaged from the nut,25, permitting the nut and stem to remain in place in the hole, andVenabling the removal of the head, I Il, and bolt, I9, and the repairedor new head may be conveniently set in place without disturbing the stemor expansion nut.

To permit practical use of devices of this type in cold climates, whereroadways are frequently covered with snow, and snow-plows are in use, Iform the marginal edge of the head, I0, with a skirt, 32, which isadapted to be seated in a groove, 33, or recess, formed in the surfaceof the road-bed, as seen in Figure 2. Preferably, the outer surface ofthe skirt is beveled or tapered inwardly to form a substantial seat andpermit the edge of the concrete to serve to reinforce its anchorage, sothat a snow-plow cannot get under the head and pull it out of theroad-bed. The term groove as used herein, and in the claims, is intendedto also cover a recess formed to the outline of the head, on the surfaceof the roadbed.

It is also highly desirable to keep moisture from seeping under the headinto the hole, 29, because it may carry dirt and other matter onto thethreads of the bolt and render it difficult to turn, or may freeze andlock the nut onto the bolt. For this purpose I contemplate using any oneof a number of suitable materials between the lower marginal edge of theskirt, 32, and the surface of the road-bed, or bottom of the notch orrecess. Any suitable plastic material may be used that is not materiallyaffected by change in temperature. For convenience, and as shown in thedrawing, I have provided a thin layer of lead, indicated at 35, on thebottom edge of the skirt, 32. A slight pressure on the head, I0, whenseating, will cause the lead to flow sufficiently to form a seal withthe surface of the concrete.

To further insure against moisture passing down onto the bolt and nut, Iplace a sealing gasket or washer, 36, on the bolt, I9, between the underside of its head, 20, and the bottom `of the recess, 2|. As anadditional safeguard, I

also provide a resilient gasket, 31, mounted on the bolt, and fittedtightly against the inner wall of the tubular stem, I5.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, manifestly it is capable of modification and re-arrangementwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, theskirt, 32, is not essential to the device, but desirably may be providedfor certain uses as indicated. I do not, therefore, wish to beunderstood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiment hereinshown and described, except as I may be so limited in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

l. In a road marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface of theroadway, a hollow stem detachably connected at its upper end to theunder side of the head, and adapted to extend down into a hole in theroadway, a rotatable bolt extending downwardly through the head andstem, and an expansion nut connected to the lower end of the bolt, andhaving cooperative engagement with the lower end of said stem.

2. In a road marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface of theroadway, a hollow stem connected at its upper end to the under side ofthe head, and adapted to extend down into a hole in the roadway, saidhead and stem having inter-engaging features` for preventing rotation ofthe stem relatively to the head, a rotatable bolt extending downwardlythrough the head and stem, and an expansion nut connected to the lowerend of the bolt, and having cooperative engagement with the lower end ofsaid stem.

3. In a road marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface of theroadway, a hollow stem connected at its upper end to the under side ofthe head, and adapted to extend down into a hole in the roadway, theunder side of said head having a depending projection, and the upper endof the hollow stem being formed with a slot adapted to register withsaid projection to preclude rotation of the stem relatively to the head,a rotatable bolt extending downwardly through the head and stem, and anexpansion nut connected to the lower end of the bolt, and havingcooperative engagement with the lower end of said stem.

4. In a road marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface of theroadway and having an inverted frusto-conical body projecting centrallyfrom the under side thereof, a hollow stem having its upper endtelescoped onto said body, and adapted to extend down into a hole in theroadway, a rotatable bolt extending downwardly through the head andstem, and an expansion nut on the lower end of the bolt and havingcooperative engagement with the lower end of said stem.

5. In a road marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface of theroadway and having an inverted frusto-conical body projecting centrallyfrom the under side thereof, a hollow stem having its upper endcooperatively tapered internally and telescoped onto said body, andadapted to extend down into a hole in the roadway, a rotatable boltextending downwardly through the head and stem, and an expansion nut onthe lower end of the bolt and having cooperative engagement with thelower end of said stern.

6. In a road marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface of theroadway and having an inverted frusto-conical body projecting centrallyfrom the under side thereof, a hollow stem having its upper endtelescoped onto said body, and adapted to extend down into a hole in theroadway, said conical body and stem having interengaging features forpreventing rotation of the stem relatively to the head, a rotatable boltextending downwardly through the head and stem, and an expansion nut onthe lower end of the bolt and having cooperative engagement with thelower end of said stem.

7. In a road marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface of theroadway, a hollow stem connected at its upper end to the under side ofthe head and adapted to extend down into a hole in the roadway, arotatable bolt extending downwardly through the head and stem, and anexpansion nut connected to the lower end of the bolt and having aplurality of tangs extending upwardly in contact with the outer surfaceof the lower end of said stem, whereby rotation of the bolt moves thenut upwardly, expanding the tangs laterally into engagement with thewall of the hole.

8. In a road marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface of theroadway, a hollow stem connected at its upper end to the under side ofthe head and adapted to extend down into a hole in the roadway, arotatable bolt extending downwardly through the head and stem, theexterior of the lower end of said stem being tapered, and an expansionnut connected to the lower end of the bolt and having a plurality oftangs extending upwardly in contact with the tapered surface of thelower end of said stern, whereby rotation of the bolt moves the nutupwardly, expanding the tangs laterally into engagement with the wall ofthe hole.

9. In aroad marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface of theroadway, a hollow stem connected at its upper end to the under side ofthe head and adapted to extend down into a hole in the roadway, arotatable bolt extending downwardly through the head and stern, theexterior of the lower end of said stem being formed with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced-apart tapered surfaces, and an expansion nutconnected to the lower end of the bolt and having a plurality ofupwardly extending tangs engaging the respective tapered surfaces of thesleeve, whereby rotation of the bolt moves the nut upwardly and expandssaid tangs laterally into engagement with the wall of the hole.

l0. In a road marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface ofthe roadway, a hollow stern connected at its upper end to the under sideof the head and adapted to extend down into a hole in the roadway, arotatable bolt extending downwardly through the head and stem, and anexpansion nut formed of copper, connected to the lower end of the boltand having a plurality of tangs extending upwardly in contact with theouter surface of the lower end of said stem, whereby rotation of thebolt moves the nut upwardly, expanding the tangs laterally intoengagement with the wall of the hole.

11. Ina road marker, a head adapted to be seated upon the surface of aroadway, a hollow stem connected at its upper end to the under side ofthe head, and adapted to extend down into a hole in the roadway, arotatable bolt 4extending down through the head and stem, said bolthaving a head seated in a recess formed in the top of the marker headand having a form for receiving a suitable implement for rotating thebolt, a sealing gasket in the recess below the bolt head, a sealingmember of resilient material surrounding the bolt and tightly engagingthe inner wall of the hollow stern, and an expansion nut connected tothe lower end of the bolt and having cooperative engagement with thelower end of said stem.

WILFRED J. LA CROIX.

